Whether it be 19 years ago or today, it’s always great to score the winning goal

Ryan Giggs

Scholes and match-winner Giggs – 75 years and 1,586 appearances between them – produced the senior service to take Fergie’s men to within two points of leaders Manchester City.

“Scholes and Giggs are the best players this club have ever had,” said the Scotsman.

Giggs, 38, and on his 900th outing for United, claimed the winner in stoppage-time and Scholes bagged the opener in the seventh minute.

Not bad for a player who first featured for the club a staggering 21 years ago this Friday.

Winger Giggs also scored at Carrow Road 19 years ago, claiming the opener in a 2-0 victory.

“It feels better,” he said. “There haven’t been many days like this so you savour it even more.

“Whether it be 19 years ago or today, it’s always great to score the winning goal.”

Scholes strode around in midfield like the Ginger Prince he is with another lesson in precision passing – except for one late slip which almost let in Norwich. It showed he was human after all.

The Canaries certainly ruffled United’s feathers and deserved to equalise in the 84th minute.

Adam Drury lofted a ball into the box and Zak Whitbread nodded on to Grant Holt, who swung his left foot to drill his shot wide of David de Gea.

It sparked Norfolk dreams of a second successive Premier League home win over United, with Norwich beating them 2-0 seven years ago in a match which featured Drury, Rio Ferdinand and Scholes.

Instead it made the men in red see red, sparking wave after wave of United attacks with the champions suddenly realising how important it was to claim the three points.

“I thought we were lethargic, too casual on the ball,” said Fergie. “Then when we lost the goal we played brilliantly.”

Paul Lambert’s Norwich started brightly but it was Scholes who put his stamp on the game.

The 37-year-old was in the perfect place to capitalise on some hesitant Norwich defending.

Nani’s cross evaded Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck but Scholes was there at the far post to nod home for his second goal since his return. First to congratulate him was Giggs.

Norwich keeper John Ruddy made a super save in the 16th minute.

Hernandez teed up Welbeck but Ruddy got down quickly to his right to stretch and claw away.

Opposite number De Gea did well in the 28th minute when Anthony Pilkington’s close-range shot was blocked by the Spaniard’s leg.

In the 64th minute, having been fed by Nani, Welbeck – set to start up front for England against Holland on Wednesday – lobbed Ruddy but there was not enough on it and Whitbread was able to clear off the line.

Eight minutes later Giggs gave a hint of what was to come, ghosting in to meet Phil Jones’ cross and cushion a left-foot shot against the bar.

Scholes’ one bad ball came in the 83rd minute, gifting it to sub Aaron Wilbraham whose cracking 22-yard shot was saved by De Gea.

Giggs’ late winner came when he arrived at the far post to meet Ashley Young’s centre with a left-foot volley.

“Given the career Ryan has had, to score the winning goal with the last kick of the game, I think he deserved that,” added Fergie, who felt Norwich were worth a point.

Norwich boss Lambert said: “That was a huge performance by us. We gave everything.”